With Saturday’s game against Espanyol, Atletico Madrid star Antoine Griezmann surpassed FC Barcelona legend Lionel Messi in an astonishing La Liga milestone.
Antoine Griezmann began his professional journey with Real Sociedad at just 13 years old, and over the past decade, he has firmly established himself as one of the most consistent players in Spanish soccer. Now shining at Atletico Madrid, the Frenchman has surpassed FC Barcelona legend Lionel Messi in a remarkable La Liga milestone.
Since its founding in 1929, La Liga has stood as Spain’s premier soccer division, hosting some of the world’s most iconic talents. Few players have managed to sustain their level in one of Europe’s most competitive leagues, but both Messi and Griezmann have left a lasting legacy—with the latter now claiming a unique spot in the history books.
On Saturday, Griezmann officially overtook Lionel Messi as the foreign player with the most appearances in La Liga history. With the match against Espanyol, the French forward recorded his 521st appearance in the competition—spanning stints with Real Sociedad (141), FC Barcelona (74), and Atlético Madrid (306)—surpassing Messi’s 520 games.
Griezmann had already overtaken notable names like Karim Benzema (439), Ivan Rakitić (438), and Dani Alves (436) on the all-time list. Now at the top, and with a contract running through June 2026, he has the opportunity to further cement his lead. Remarkably, despite this longevity, he has yet to win a La Liga title.
The French star moved to Barcelona for the 2019–20 season, but was unable to help the club capture the league title. Ironically, Atletico Madrid won La Liga in 2020–21 during his absence. Griezmann returned to the Colchoneros the following season and has remained a cornerstone of the team, though the league title still eludes him.
Griezmann vs. Messi in La Liga
Griezmann still has the chance to make history in La Liga with Atletico Madrid, where he has established himself as a key figure in recent years. However, despite surpassing Messi in appearances, his numbers fall well short of the Barca legend’s.
Griezmann has played 521 La Liga matches across three clubs, tallying 198 goals and 95 assists (293 goal contributions). However, he has yet to win the league. Messi, in contrast, played 520 La Liga games exclusively for Barcelona, scoring an astonishing 474 goals and providing 216 assists (690 goal contributions), while winning the title 10 times—second-most in league history.
